FaultScore

Jeep Wrangler vs Ford Explorer

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Jeep Wrangler Ford Explorer
Complaints on file 22,900 43,182
Model years covered 1986–2026 1977–2026
Worst model year 2021 1998
Best model year 2025 2008
Crashes reported 779 2,346
Fires reported 736 987
Injuries reported 477 1,945
Deaths reported 26 182
Most complained-about part Steering Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 8.8% 12.6%

Jeep Wrangler by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Steering 3,528 15.4%
Electrical System 2,962 12.9%
Engine & Cooling 2,738 12.0%
Fuel & Propulsion 2,562 11.2%
Suspension 1,593 7.0%
Airbags 1,481 6.5%
Other & Unspecified 1,301 5.7%

Ford Explorer by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Body & Structure 5,304 12.3%
Engine & Cooling 4,189 9.7%
Tires 4,187 9.7%
Steering 4,173 9.7%
Other & Unspecified 3,096 7.2%
Electrical System 2,300 5.3%
Brakes 2,221 5.1%